Evergreen grave cover



Apri 12, 1938. HE. MERKEL 2,113,922

l EVERGREEN GRAVE covER Filed oct. 23, 1957 Patented Apr. 1,2, 193s fUNiTEnsTArEs PATENT orties EVERGREEN GRAVI: COVER Henry J., Merkel,Bellwood, 111.

Application October 23,1937, Serial No. 170,565

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in blankets formed of evergreenssuitable for covering graves or for other decorative or ornamentalpurposes.

An object of this invention is tor provide an evergreen blanket or gravecover formed of intertwined andinterlocked branches of evergreens,without the use of tying cords, threads, wires, nails or other bindingmaterials.

Another object is to provide an evergreen grave cover which is adaptedto remain in a verdant state for a long period, and which can beconveniently stored, transported, and handled.

Further objects relate to the method of forming the grave covering, theintertwining and interlocking of the laminiferous evergreen branches vto form a well bound structure which can withof Fig. 1.

stand rough usage and Weather conditions, and `to produce a structurewhich cannot readily be blown away or have its form or design disruptedby Winds.

Other objects relate to economies of structure, method of formation, andthe arrangement of parts, which will be apparent from a consideration ofthe following description'and drawing, wherein;-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention showing an evergreen blanketpartially formed, and secured to a base member.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 Fig. 4 is a plan viewof my invention illustrating an evergreen blanket partially formed andsecured to a base member showing a modied manner of intertwining andinterlocking the evergreen branches.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2, but of a modifiedconstruction showing an evergreen blanket formed on both faces of theform.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2, but illustratinganother modified form of a blanket comprising several layers ofevergreen blanketing` material formed on a single face of the base form.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a base or form member constructedof any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastics, and ispreferably of rectangular form of any desirable length and width. Also,while the drawing shows my preferred form of a base member comprisingnarrow strips of material formed in a frame having the approximateoutline of the blanket or decorative cover, with a longitudinal strut,it will readily be seen that it can be formed of a solid slab or blockof material, or when in outline form it may or may not have one or moreintermediate struts il.

Extending into the face of the form are a series of spaced openings l2.These openings extend at least around the outline of the form adjacentitsmarginal edges, and may also be formed along the strut members, ormay be formed in some other arrangement to produce a definite pattern.

The evergreen laminiferous material shown in the drawing, and which isvmost suitable for forming grave coverings consists of short branch-eshaving acicular leaves, such as branches of various pine trees. Informing the blanket on the base form,by my preferred manner ofconstruction, I utilize two general series of branches, one series beingengaged to the form and intertwined with each other, and a second seriesheld in place by the formations of the rst series.

As shown by the drawing, one end i3 of the branches l@ are inserted intoopenings l2 which are of a diameter conforming substantially to thediameter of the branchends so that they firmly seat therein. Thesebranches are then bent s downwardly against the face of the form and thefree exterior ends of each branch are partially looped around the stemof a preceding branch, to thus form a substantially flat series ofintertwined branches, the free edges of which overhang the peripheralmargin of the form l0, to substantially conceal it. The second series ofbranches I have one end oi their stems E6 inserted under the loops ofthebranches ld, which are tightly drawn so that the stems l5 are firmlyheld against the e frame it, and extend laterally and inwardlytherefrom, and are thus adapted to .lie at in the plane of the blanket.In completing the assembly of the last branch of the peripheral series,after inserting the last stem into its base opening, the free end of thebranch is inserted underneath the adjacent looped branch by eitherslightly withdrawing the free end of said looped branch and loosening itor withdrawing its stem partially or fully from its seat and twining thefree end of the last branch around that stemafter which the assembly maybe completely locked by re-seating the stem and tightly drawing the freeends of the branches. Likewise the last branch of any transverse seriesmay be inserted underneath an adjacent loop of another already formedseries.

Y center strut.

I may have only one end locked under the seportion of the base or frame,to form a continuous evergreen blanket.

It will readily be seen that the branches of the rst series may beintertwined in any other suitable manner, and there may be one or morebranches inserted into each opening in the frame. Also there may be oneor more branches of the laterally extending series inserted into theloop of the rst series, and they may be symmetrically formed into othersuitable patterns.

In Fig. 1 the strut I I serves to both bolster the frame and to form aYrest for the free ends of the branches I5. However, in Fig. 2, whichshows a modified construction, a series of intertwined branches areformed on the strut-with their ends inserted into a series of openingsthereon. In this form the laterally extending series of branches mayhave their free ends locked under the loops of the intertwined branchesValong the Also each lateral row of branches ries of loops on adjacentframe members, such as onelongitudinal edge member and the strut, orwhen a larger fram. havingV more cross members is used, latera yextending'branch series may extend from each row of intertwinedbranches. Y

Fig. 5 shows another modified construction wherein the openings VI'Iextend through the frame lil from one face to theother, so that ablanket of evergreens may be'formed in the man- Y ner above set forth onboth faces of the form,

. whereby branch ends I3 extend into the openings Il from one face,Y andbranch ends i3a from the opposed face. a single branch' I8 may be drawnthrough the openings I2 and the intertwining structure formed on eachVface by means Vof Vtheresp'ective free ends.V Y

Another modified structure is shown in Fig. Y6 wherein the blanket isformed of several thicknesses of intertwined and interlocked branches,and which may likewise be formed onboth faces of the form.

It will also readily be seen that the laterally extending series ofbranches may be engaged between other portions kof the intertwinedv andlooped branches, and that other methods of intertwining may be used, andthe whole overgreen blanket may be pre-formed and later joined to theframe or base form member. I therefore do not wish to be restricted tothe shown and described details except as limited by the append-l edclaims.

l. A decorative structure comprising a base member and a coveringtherefor extending over the peripheral edges thereof and therebetween,"

the said covering comprising at least a marginal formation ofintertwined evergreen laminiferous material affixedV to said basemember, and evergreen laminiferous material interlocked by Also, andVmore conveniently, 1

means of said intertwined formation and extending inwardly therefrom andlying substantially in the plane of said base member.

2. A` decorative structure comprising a base member having a pluralityof spaced holes formed adjacent the peripheral edges thereof, and anevergreen laminiferous cover therefor, the said cover comprisingbranches of evergreens having their stems positioned in said holes andhavin?,r their free ends intertwined and lying adjacent said edges, andadditional branches having at least one of their ends engaged by saidintertwined branches and extending inwardly and substantially laterallytherefrom.

Y 3. A graveV covering .comprising a blanket formed ofintertwined andinterlocked lamniferous evergreen branches, a base member therefor, a,series `of spaced apart perforations in said base member, and aplurality of branch ends extending from said blanket and perpendicularto Ythe plane thereofjadapted to be seated in said tending laterallytherefrom andV therebetween over the'face of said base member.

5. A grave cover comprising a supporting member formedY with series ofspaced apart perforations, and evergreen laminiferous blanketingmaterial extending overthe faces of said supporting member, series ofintertwined evergreen material engaged to said supporting member bymeans of 'said perforations, and additional se-, ries of evergreenmaterial having their branch` ends interlocked by said intertwinedseries and extending therefrom in a plane parallel to the plane of thesurface of said supporting member, and thereover.

6. A grave covering comprising a grid-like base member and a blanketthereover comprising intertwined and interlocked branches oflaminiferous evergreens, spaced apart openings extending into the barsof said grid and seating the `stems of said intertwined branches, thesaid branches being intertwined by having their free ends partiallyloopedV around the stems of adjacent branches and lying against saidgrid or'the bars thereof, and additional branches having at least oneend ofV their stems engaged or locked by said intertwined stems and,extending therefrom' over said grid in symmetrical formation in a planeparallel to its surfaces to form a continuous covering therefor.

HENRY J. MERKEL.

